Moving from Huntington Beach, CA to Midland, TX

It is 1105 mi between Huntington Beach and Midland β€” roughly 19h 10m of driving, plus rest stops and overnight, through 4 state(s). A long-haul move crosses climate zones and usually state-income-tax lines. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data into a side-by-side comparison so the differences are easy to scan.

1105 mi Β· 19h 10m by car Β· CA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX

COL -15.7% Home values -76.0% Ξ” +0.1Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1105 mi
Drive time
19h 10m
States
4
Fuel (25 mpg)
44 gal
Route throughCA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX
Primary highwaysI 10, US 180, I 20
Major cities en routeLong Beach, Torrance, Downey, Inglewood, Santa Ana

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

Huntington BeachMidlandU.S. avg
All items (RPP)113.56695.783100.0
Rents158.58983.24100.0
Goods106.62393.757100.0
Services170.433101.497100.0

Overall cost of living drops 15.7% moving from Huntington Beach to Midland β€” meaningful on rent but closer to parity on groceries.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Huntington Beach β€” typical home
$1,366,658
Midland β€” typical home
$328,325
Huntington Beach β€” typical rent
$3,026/mo
Midland β€” typical rent
$1,603/mo

Zillow ZHVI drops from $1,366,658 in Huntington Beach to $328,325 in Midland, a 15.7% decrease on the typical home value.

YoY change: Huntington Beach +2.8%, Midland +2.7%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsHuntington BeachMidland
Annual avg temperature65Β°F65Β°F
January avg low49Β°F31Β°F
July avg high79Β°F95Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”1.9"
Annual precipitation11.2"13.6"

Climate is roughly comparable on the annual mean β€” 64.9Β°F vs 65.0Β°F per NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Expect 1.9 in of snow annually at the destination β€” manageable with basic winter gear per NOAA normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SANTA ANA JOHN WAYNE AP, CA US, MIDLAND 4 ENE, TX US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023Huntington BeachMidland
Population196,010133,998
Median household income$119,885$91,169
Median age43.431.6
Bachelor's degree or higher29.5%23.9%
Avg household size2.532.54

Midland households earn about 15.7% less than Huntington Beach at the median β€” $119,885 β†’ $91,169 on ACS 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Huntington Beach MSA β€” median wage
$50,490
Midland MSA β€” median wage
$50,470
Huntington Beach MSA β€” employment
6,185,570
Midland MSA β€” employment
114,810

Top occupations in Midland MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Construction and Extraction Occupations 17,160 $49,990
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 14,010 $48,020
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 11,250 $45,440
Management Occupations 10,010 $126,770
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations 9,680 $56,990

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Texas

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Texas income tax
no state income tax

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Texas's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Midland average 95Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Dry climate: Midland sees only 13.6 in of precipitation a year. A humidifier helps keep wood furniture from cracking and is easier on skin and sinuses.
  • Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Texas after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How far is Midland, TX from Huntington Beach, CA?

The driving distance is 1105 mi and the route typically takes 19h 10m via I 10 and US 180. The trip crosses 4 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How does household income compare in Huntington Beach vs Midland?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $91,169 in Midland vs $119,885 in Huntington Beach β€” a 24.0% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How much do homes cost in Midland compared to Huntington Beach?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $328,325 in Midland vs $1,366,658 in Huntington Beach β€” a 76.0% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does the job market in Midland compare to Huntington Beach?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $50,470 in the Midland MSA vs $50,490 in the Huntington Beach MSA, on total employment of 114,810 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

When is the best time to move from Huntington Beach to Midland?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1105 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Is Midland more expensive than Huntington Beach?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Midland is 15.7% lower than Huntington Beach (95.783 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Huntington Beach.

City profiles: Huntington Beach, CA Β· Midland, TX.

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